Artist Trak's Stuff - Updated 11/17

I've actually never taken any advanced art classes. XD I wish I had, as I would've learned lots of nice tricks, but I'm mostly self-taught.

Anywho, thank you! You wouldn't believe how long Han has been driving me nuts! I was using some offline references from Star Wars Insider #127. It's just easier to draw away from the computer, on a table, rather than try and draw at a very small desk, with my sketchbook on my lap. I'll try those other tricks and see if I can't hammer out the likeness some more.

In the meantime, here's some freshly-drawn and freshly-scanned sketches.

Thanks. The only problem with being self-taught is that one misses out on the additional knowledge and instruction that only a formal class can bring. I have to learn my figure drawing from books and the Internet, but I benefit more from live models. Whenever I can, I ask people to model for me (clothed). Live models allow me to see how muscle groups work in concert, which is something I miss out on in a book, because I cannot see the person actually move. I would really like to some day take a figure drawing class, without having to shell out cash for a four-year hitch just for one single class.

In the meantime, here are a couple of sketches.

I haven't drawn Jar Jar since high school.

[image=http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6539/jarjarpizza.jpg]

My reference was holding a spear, but I changed it to pizza. Then, he looked like he was cussing.

And if you've read the Shadows of the Empire comic, then you may remember when Fett used Zuckuss as a decoy.

With classes, what you get out of it and your enjoyment levels does also depends on who your instructor is and their background. Using live models/maquettes does so much more than with a still reference, especially with lighting conditions. You have the construction process down pat and your model sheets and artworks do look professional.

Regarding the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project, with your drawing, I can imagine how that scene might had played out between Zuckuss and Fett. I know the book, N64 game and soundtrack well but I have yet to read the comics and been trying to get my hands on them.

With classes, what you get out of it and your enjoyment levels does also depends on who your instructor is and their background. Using live models/maquettes does so much more than with a still reference, especially with lighting conditions. You have the construction process down pat and your model sheets and artworks do look professional.

Regarding the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project, with your drawing, I can imagine how that scene might had played out between Zuckuss and Fett. I know the book, N64 game and soundtrack well but I have yet to read the comics and been trying to get my hands on them.

Click to expand...

The comics are pretty good. You could probably pick the SOTE tpb up on Amazon. That's how I got mine.

I'll have to do that so I can get a more complete story of that period. The comics deals more with the bounty hunters side of things and Evolutions is kinda a sequel, right? The game was fun, I do wish they allow it to be on the Wii Virtual Console or be reimagines/remade for current platforms.

Heh, thanks. My prior Lando drawings, while one had his likeness, they just lacked his smooth and sexiness. I drew that one from a reference on my computer, something I don't often do, as I prefer that my references are printed out. My desk doesn't permit much drawing room, so I often have to draw on my lap. I prefer to draw out in the kitchen, on the table, where I have better lighting.

My reference for Madine was from the New Essential Guide to Characters, and thus quite an awful reference. I have another reference now, a better one, that has a better likeness at a better angle. I don't like using the NEGtC for referencing, as quite often, the likenesses are off. :/

Pose reference was Irving Kershner discussing a scene with Carrie Fisher. The postures and layout were exactly what I was looking for, so I used them, with some minor tweaks to the body shapes. Though, for poses such as this, I would prefer to use live models.

Thinking differently in order to alter my style to match the character personalities was an interesting challenge. I'm pretty happy with the result. And, when I post the pic in the Dear Diary thread, I'll make sure to include an over-analysis of the painting, courtesy of Zuckuss's psychiatrist.

Zuckuss is a [link=http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gand]Gand[/link], whereas Plo Koon is a [link=http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kel_Dor]Kel Dor[/link]. Both species are not oxygen breathers, which is why they wear respirators. But, Gands are very different from Kel Dors.

Hm... I should draw Plo Koon some day, round out my species drawing...

Chak Ravartin, from Goodwood's Silver Swarms diary. His facial features were based on a nameless (as in, I haven't yet located the article on Wookieepedia) Hoth Rebel soldier from the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia, his hair styled after a Dogma-era Matt Damon, and he ended up looking like Leonardo DiCaprio.